As Routes Europe enters its ninth year in 2014, this year’s event will bring a mix of old and new as established delegates and exhibitors return, while new arrivals seek to take advantage of the event to showcase their airports and regions. This year one new arrival is the Tampere region in Finland who will be highlighting the ’Manchester of Finland’ to delegates at the event.

Tampere is the second largest urban area in Finland with some 350,000 inhabitants. It has an excellent 360 degree catchment area in the Middle of Finland some 170km North of Helsinki and is easily accessible from all directions, being a central hub for rail and road traffic.

International businesses, congresses and especially tourism in the region are all highly dependent on good connectivity and these three areas were identified in analysis completed by The Baltic Institute of Finland in the EU in its project Baltic Bird as key opportunities for the region and led to the City of Tampere’s decision to exhibit at Routes Europe 2014!

The City is located between two lakes on a narrow isthmus and therefore has been enjoying the benefits of hydro power since it was established in 1779. Similar to all parts of the world, the industries have undergone a dramatic change. Today Tampere is home to a large number of International businesses, two big Universities and has a strong ICT knowledge.

Its main gateway Tampere Airport is part of the Finavia and offers a mix of options for low-cost and business travellers from its two terminals. From the airport, the traveller has also smooth and easy connections via the good ground ingrastructure on road and railway networks to connect around the region.

You can find out more about the Tampere Region and its desired network growth during Routes Europe in Marseille next month by visiting representatives at stand S8.